Veracruz Diving?

[PacoRocco6]

My wife and I were thinking of going to Veracruz for 8 days right after Christmas to dive. Been diving in Cancun, Cozumel (3 times), Riviera Maya, and heading down to Costa Maya in the summer so we want to cross Veracruz off the list now. Heard that conditions in December/January aren't favorable though due to weather though. Anyone know if this is true?

If it looks like diving is possible, any recommendations for operators? Also, what conditions should be expect in terms of viz and water temperature?

Been looking at Scubaver or Dorado Buceo. Anyone know anything about Puerto Lobos Dive Camp? They're also in the area and seem to dive the northern part of the Veracruz Marine Park.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ElGaucho]

Veracruz diving is nothing to write home about, considering you have been diving a place like Coz. Right now the viz is not the best, that's for sure. I can't tell you exactly what to expect. But the town of Veracruz is beautiful, I love going there. Since it's driving distance from where I live, it does become my main diving locale (together with Acapulco with is heading the other way). I do maybe 4 trips a year to Veracruz with the purpose of diving. Again, this may not be the best time of the year (viz and nortes are common so the port might get closed during one of those) to go diving in veracruz. You could go further north and do the oil rigs, but I don't think this is the time of the year to do them, there isn't much to do away from diving (Veracruz town does offer more stuff to do).

If you end up going there, contact Scubaver, I believe Joseph (the owner) runs the best dive shop by far. Dorado Buceo / Mundo Submarino (same ownership) are good, and I can't say anything bad about them. I just love Joseph's outfit and he does tech, doubles, helium, boosted O2, so he gets my vote for having the better setup, the better crews and the better boats. But again, you won't go wrong at all with Dorado, which is manned by Manuel and his wife. I would probably go with whoever works best in terms of accomodating whatever needs you might have, and whoever provides the best email contact. I wouldn't go with any other operator in the area than those two.

Now if you are just looking for plain diving, I would head to Cabo Pulmo myself at this time of the year, and not to Veracruz. Leaving Veracruz for some other time and combining maybe a few platform dives up north and then heading down to the port city of Veracruz. Lemme know if you need more help with this sort of plan.

At this time of year I wouldn't dive Veracruz with anything else than a good full 3mm suit. I would probably prefer a 5mil myself. And Im not that skinny. Dunno what the specific water temps are.

 

[PacoRocco6]

Thank you very much for your quick and detailed response. Looks like we'll combine Veracruz with Costa Maya in the summer. Gonna probably head down to Curacao instead. They have a banging NYE extravaganza anyway. Thanks again, you rock.